Apple still tightens iPhone 8, X batteries

Apple today announced that iOS 12.1 will contain the controversial battery-saving voltage feature, which means that iPhones 8, 8 Plus and X all wanted the feature – even though Apple insisted it was not necessary last year.

Verge detected the update to Apple's support page for battery and performance. The latest passage reads as follows:

Starting with iOS 1

2.1, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X includes this feature, but performance management may be less noticeable due to their more advanced hardware and software.

Fortunately, from iOS 11.3 this is optional, as users have the option to turn off battery-saving function. Apple does not recommend this, natch, but it's nice to have a choice.

Still, after admitting last year that it spreads older iPhones to avoid battery problems, you think Apple will avoid solving the problem again. There was no small amount of rebellion, not least because it does not sound like an altruistic move.

After all, what better way to convince the potential consumer they need a new phone than to ensure that they get a fraction of speed on their current device. In addition to consumer dissatisfaction, it also resulted in a $ 5.7 million fine from an Italian watchdog. This led to the renewed iPhone battery program, a form of fines where Apple reduced the price of a $ 50 replacement battery to fix the root of the problem easier.

Apple was also forced to solve the problem in a letter to Congress, where the specifically mentioned question about whether it would add the throttle to newer devices. Its response meant that the new phones would not require gas damper:

The iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X models include hardware updates that allow a more advanced performance management system that iOS can predict more easily and avoids unexpected shutdown.

The company continues to exploit the "more advanced" hardware, and the fact that it is putting the exact same hobble on the new phones seems to contradict that idea.